Even the best anglers could use a little help
Ron Nuzzolo
Fish On

When it comes to good fishing, communication is the key. Years ago, and still to this day, captains communicate on certain channels and are careful what they say over the radio waves. This is so they don't have their secret spots fished out. Well, times have changed and the Internet has played a big part in communication among anglers. With the cost of fuel and entry fees into tournaments, captains need the extra edge before they spend thousands of dollars on a trip offshore.

I have been fortunate enough to be a member of www.njsaltwaterfisherman.com, a Web site that is free to anyone interested in sharing and helping each other with reports and information on our local fisheries. It is a family-oriented site loaded with pictures and any topic you need to help you become a better angler. The members are friendly and respectful to any questions or comments you wish to share. Amateur angler or pro, they are a tight-knit family of members who really help one another when it comes to the sport of fishing. When it comes to finding fish, you can get real-time reports on where all the action is, and at the end of the day, sites like this become a watchdog, which helps protect our waters and increases our fisheries' health by educating the local anglers and the importance of our fisheries to the economy.

From Barnegat Light, Capt. Steve (from www.reelfantaseacharters.com) had his first mid-shore "Southern Speedster" trip, and it was very rewarding. Andy Pemerick and friend Chris Weed, both from the Albany, N.Y., area, had solid action with bonitos with the guys doubled, tripled and even quadrupled up at times with the bones on a combination of spoons and zuckers. They missed only a handful of fish but also had some short strikes on the zuckers that may have been bluefin tunas. They also spiced the catch with a nice mahi-mahi to 10 pounds. The mahi-mahi gave a beautiful aerial display, rocketing 5 feet out of the water, all lit up.

Tony Schirro, owner and operator of the restaurant Latest Dish in South Philly, and friend and sous-chef Rob Holloway were out for a solid back-bay trip with the guys landing some 20 fluke (six of which made the box), blues and countless Jersey tarpon, also known as hickory shad.

Philip Engel was out with his father-in-law Paul and two young sons (ages 3 and 7) for a mix catch of cocktail blues and hickory shad while grass shrimping.

Bill Fee, on the Star Chaser, of Browns Point Marina, took 11-year-old Matt Turner, along with his grandpa Joe and Uncle John of Woodbridge, on his first fishing trip. They had a mixed bag along with some nice keeper fluke. Matt caught the first fish and was the high hook of the trip. Said the captain, "I think we've got a new fisherman among us."

The Scotty T, with Capt. Sea Robin and Mark Schultz, hit Shrewsbury rocks and landed two nice 42-inch bass along with a limit of keeper fluke and sea bass. They did warn me to bring plenty of rigs if planning to fish the rocks.

Don't forget to send all your reports and recipes to ron@signbrothers.com.